NEWS
RELEASE from the United States Department of DefenseNo. 1317-04IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember24, 2004Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703)
692-2000 Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the
death of thirteen soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died
December 21, 2004, in Mosul, Iraq, when their dining facility was attacked.
Killed were:

A 1984 graduate of Apple Valley High School
was among the 24 killed in last month's suicide bombing attack on a military
mess tent in Mosul, the U.S. Army and his family said.

Sergeant Major Maj. Robert D. Odell, 38, was
a member of the Army's Special Forces, serving with Intelligence and Security
Command in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va. Odell was buried
in Arlington National Cemetery on January 4, 2005.

"He strove for excellence in everything he
did," said his sister, Jeannie Taylor, who lives in Apple Valley. "He was
outstanding in everything."

As a member of the Army's elite Special Forces
— "Green Berets" — Odell scored in the top 0.5 percent, his sister said.
Many of the assignments Odell performed in his 19 years in the military
were secret.

Odell is survived by his wife, Cynthia Odell,
and three children, Connor, 5, Joshua, 3, and Olivia, 2, who live in Virginia.
He is also survived by his father, Bob Odell; mother, Danice Bigelow; sisters
Jeannie Taylor, Suzie Schonaur, Rhonda Whitham and Robin Odell; brother
Michael Jones; and father-in-law and mother-in-law Oliver and Patricia
Skok.

Odell joined the Army in September 1985 and
later graduated from Ranger school before pursuing a career in Special
Forces. In 1989, Odell earned the Special Forces Tab and the Green Beret.

He was twice awarded the Combat Infantryman's
Badge and also earned the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service
Medal and the Legion of Merit. He served in Panama and in the first Gulf
War.

From the time Odell was a young boy, the Army
was his calling, Taylor said. She recalled that a car once backed over
Odell when he was 2-years-old while he was playing with army men.

Rhonda Whitman of Lompoc, another sister of
Odell, remembers her older brother setting up an obstacle course and then
having her time him.

Odell was known as "Odie" to the men he worked
with. He was well liked by all, his family said.

Odell met the love of his life, Cynthia, in
New Orleans. After dating and long phone conversations, they married in
September 1994.

Odell loved to spend time with his family.
Last year, Odell took his family to San Diego Wild Animal Park and Disneyland.
Then, he dropped his kids off at Taylor's house while he and his wife visited
Las Vegas.

A trust fund has been set up for the benefit
of his children. Donations can be sent to the Robert Odell Trust at Sterling
Bank, 20045 Katy Freeway, Katy, Texas 77450.
ODELL, ROBERT DANIELSGM US ARMYVETERAN SERVICE DATES: 08/28/1986 - 12/21/2004DATE OF BIRTH: 08/28/1966DATE OF DEATH: 12/21/2004DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/04/2005BURIED AT: SECTION 60 SITE 8089ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY